Discount Services/Sliding Fee Scale

No one will be turned away for their inability to pay.

A sliding scale/ discount services is available based on income and household size.

Contact Sara to inquire about this option.

Insurance Networks

Sara is currently in network with:

• Health Partners

• Optum

• Minnesota Health Care Programs (Medicaid)

• Medica

• Surest

• United Health Care

Sara is currently out of network with other insurance networks in the Mora location, but is actively working to add this location to existing contracts which include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Plus, Multiplan, Aetna, and UCare. If you would like to get started right away, you can work with Sara in her Blaine location at Watershed Psychological Services by calling 763-703-3754.

No Surprise Billing Act

Good Faith Estimate

You have the Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate of Expected Charges Under the No Surprises Act. If you are choosing to use out of network benefits this information is included in an introductory email. If you would like to receive your Good Faith Estimate in paper form, please let us know.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item.

You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call us at (651) 448-2322.

GENERAL FEES FOR SERVICES

General fees for services are provided prior to your first appointment.

DEFINITIONS

“Balance Billing” When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network. 

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit. 

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. 

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network. 

You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments,coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

Your health plan generally must:

Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits

Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact us at (651) 448-2322 or reach information for consumers at https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers.

Payment Policies

Payments are required at time of service. We will be in network with most insurance companies, but those deciding to pay with cash, or out of network benefits are welcome to do so.  For those who do not have insurance, or those with high deductible plans, on a limited basis, we do offer a reduced fee.

Using Insurance

Many people choose to use their insurance benefits to cover mental health counseling.  Your provider often covers these services in full as they do with other medical services.  It is important you understand the benefits as well as the drawbacks of using insurance to cover therapy.

Benefits

You will likely pay less for your counseling services (often it is the same copay or coinsurance you pay for other medical services) and money spent applies to your deductible

Drawbacks

Insurance requires a mental health diagnosis to pay for services and this diagnosis becomes a part of your medical record,

Insurance companies have access to your confidential client record so complete privacy cannot be guaranteed.  While the insurance companies typically only access these files for determining if these services are beneficial and necessary to you, they do have permission to access them at any point in time.